Friday, January 22, 2010

KUDO's Well Deserved!!

Police department and sheriff’s office commended for capture of gunman

Clair Township trustees commended the St. Clair Police Department and the Hancock County Sheriff's Office Tuesday for the Jan. 9 capture of Brandon Evans, 19, of Youngstown.
Evans had threatened a St. Clair Township resident Jan. 9 with what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol. The Maple Street resident called the police department at 10:35 a.m. reporting that a black male was at the residence with a weapon.
St. Clair Police Officer James Briggs previously stated that the resident told the department Evans pointed the gun in his face before leaving the residence and heading toward Dunham Plaza. Both Briggs and Officer Scott Mick located Evans in the Dunham Plaza, but Evans was no longer possessing the weapon.
The Hancock County Sheriff's Office was notified and Deputy Scott Little arrived on the scene with his K9, Christina. Officers were able to locate the gun with Christina's help.
Officers later learned that the gun was actually a Daisy BB gun, "even though it (had) all the appearances of being a real gun," Briggs previously stated.
On Tuesday, Hyatt said he was pleased with how the department and the sheriff's office handled the situation. "Some people say 'that is just a BB gun' but if he had pulled that on me ... instead of people making jokes about that, they should be celebrating the follow-through these guys did. We didn't give up."
Board President James Sabatini said, "When you get reports of someone walking down the road and flashing a pistol in the air, you should make the assumption that it is real."
Hyatt added that until the department actually has a gun in evidence, "we don't know that it's a BB gun." Hyatt also said that the gun did not have the orange cap that most BB guns have which sets them apart from real guns.
Sabatini added that the fact that Evans "ditched" the gun in a nearby area between two structures gave off the impression that the gun was real.
Hyatt pointed out that Evans was from Youngstown, and that the department has been seeing an increase in crime from out-of-the area residents. "That is what we are dealing with. This is a busy place," he said.
Vice-President James Hall said he would like to commend Hyatt and the St. Clair Township police officers for their efforts. Hall added that he was pleased to see how "closely knit" departments are with one another to be able to rely on each other for support.
"We work really well together," Hyatt said.
Hyatt also presented the board with the 2009 annual activity report for the department. "Most everything is up, but nothing unusual," he said.
For the year the department saw a slight increase in assault cases during the month of June. Breaking and entering cases were up in July, and criminal damaging cases were up in June.
The department also saw an increase in domestic violence cases, shoplifting, and theft in May. Shoplifting was also up in December.
The department made a total of 736 arrests during the year, 97 of which occurred in August.
Trustees noted that driving under the influence cases were down for the year. "Some people in the community (see that) as we are not doing our job, but I look at it (as) people are wising up," Hyatt said.
In other business, trustees discussed a nuisance property located at the corner of Rankin Street and state Route 267. "We had asked (Calcutta Fire Chief) Don Vuletic to go over there and look at that. Don got a hold of the property owner and Rich Griffin called me, but basically what he said is they can't go onto his property and say that the furnace is unsafe. But he is going to be meeting with the state inspector and they are going to do a drive-by," Sabatini said.
Sabatini explained that a "drive-by" is when officials drive by the house to inspect a property because they are not legally allowed to inspect the property on foot.
The house has raised some concerns because residents have been dumping items over the back of the hill, and a wood burning stove located on the property could be a potential fire hazard.
"If you look at it, it just doesn't even remotely look safe. We just have to prove that it isn't," Sabatini said.
In other business, the board approved transferring $154.13 from the excise lodging tax fund to the general fund to pay the St. Clair Travel and Tourism Bureau. The board also approved paying bills in the amount of $82,148.42.
The next regular St. Clair Township meeting will take place Feb. 2 at noon in the administration building.

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Michael Williams

Justice for Michael

Dalton's Candle

We have decided that since we can't get the written permission we need, the candle will travel with us permanently to represent Dalton wherever we go. It will be lit when ever possible to remind us never to forget that Dalton Springer was here.

Terry Ballard -Terry left his house with a friend on September 21, 1995. He was found at the BFI in East Palestine.Walter Valentine -Walter died from multiple gunshot wounds and his trailer was set on fire.Earl Tweed -Earl Tweed was murdered in East Liverpool at his store on July 30, 1973. Frank Daniels -Frank was found on September 8, 1974 on a bank of the Ohio River. He was 14 years old.

Irvin Keefer - Irvin Keefer was shot during a robbery at his gas station/mini mart in Glenmoor on January 14, 1976.Bruce Burton -Bruce was found 200 yards from his home in a field. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Jamie Huffman -Jamie was on his way home from Stitches Bar when he was found on the road by a passerby. He later died in the hospital.Christopher Joy Jr. - Christopher was beaten to death in his home. He was 18 months old. His mother's boyfriend was charged for his death and then released. You can read his entire story by searching our archives from March.

Sherry Ieropoli - Sherry was shot to death in her home on August 24, 2008. Her case is still under investigation and was just recently ruled a homicide.

Dick Hubbard -Dick was murdered outside his apartment behind Loudon Ford in Salem on June 6, 1986. He died from a gunshot wound. He owned Hubbards' Truck Stop at 44139 SR 14 in Columbiana.

Dalton Springer -Dalton was only 3 years old when he was beaten to death in November 17, 2000. Little else is known about this little boy.

James Brenneman -James went missing from East Liverpool in January of 1971. His body was later found in the Ohio river.

James Anthony Sr. -James was working at Century Gas Station when he was beaten during a robbery. He died 5 years later.

Gerald Klusch -Gerald was last seen on September 29, 2011 at around 1 pm. His body was discovered on November 18, 2011.

Ardes Ruth Bauman - The Columbiana County Coroner's Office issued its final ruling Monday in the case of 60-year-old Ardes Ruth Bauman, whose body was discovered Oct. 25, 2010 by a Perry Township police officer who noticed a small fire and a van in the closed off area known as Cry Baby Bridge.

Linda & Angela Morris -Linda and her 4 year old daughter Angela as well as her unborn child were murdered in East Liverpool in 1973 during a robbery in progress at The Tweed Furniture Store. Earl Tweed was also killed in that robbery.

If you have any information regarding these open cases, I urge you to please contact the Columbiana County Sheriff's department at 330-424-7255. Do all that you can to help the families finally have a sense of peace and justice for their loved ones.